Before you leave Colombia: Don’t forget to get your tax back :
Before leaving Colombia leaving from Bogota to travel to Panama, I realized that other travelers went to get the departure tax for the airfare they paid back (when you book your flight in Colombia to leave the country you are eligible) In the end, I unexpectedly got C$70,000 (ca. 25 USD) back.
Many travelers don’t know about it and so leave without getting this money back, so here I share how to go about getting $$$ back to use for other things while traveling.
What to do at the Bogota Airport ?
- Go to the check-in counter.
- Present your passport and receive an exemption stamp.
- Go to the cashier window, fill out the departure tax paperwork and receive your $$$.
- Return to the check-in counter to check-in.
I received a refund of C$70,000 because the airport tax was included in the price of my airfare ticket.
When are you not eligible to receive a tax refund ?
This might not always be the case, because if you didn’t purchase the plane ticket in Colombia, the tax wasn’t included in the price ticket and therefore travelers are not eligible for a refund.
Another scenario might be: if you hadn’t been long enough in Colombia to qualify for the airport tax, you might not be eligible for a refund, even when the tax has already been charged to the flight ticket.
In case you purchase a ticket through a third party website or when in another country, then the tax was not included in the ticket price, so you are not eligible. When you then stay in Colombia for some time, you have to pay the tax when checking in.
My tip: Arrive at the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure because arranging to get the tax back can take time and you might have to wait in line.
Being the recipient of some unexpected cash is always a good thing. I hope you are successful!
#TW # DON’T FORGET TO GET YOUR TAX BACK